Would you hunt Elk with a bow in the 51-53# range?
I know I have a long draw (30+) and I shoot a 530 gr arrow but should I perhaps look at a bit more weight?
I will be following this post closely. A new bow is in the future, and that is my same draw length and bow weight that I am looking at.
Yeah I've always shot in the upper 50's say 56-59 but I'm looking to get a new bow and those 5 lbs lighter limbs sure feel good, and are plenty for deer.
yup! I've taken 4 elk with that weight long bows. Have very sharp BHs and patiently wait for the classic broadside shot....
The last elk I killed was with a 51@28 bow drawn to 29"...and a 530 grain arrow. No problems with penetration or recovery.
I hunt elk each year with low 50's # bows and have no worries with my setups. A nice heavy arrow with good arrow flight and the right shot placement, you should be fine.
I know many of my buddies that do the same each year with no problems.
More than enough. For me, anything over 50# at my draw length, and I only draw 26".
I know it works Maddog Prairie Predator 51#@26" 500gr arrow
Africa 2011
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Use two blade/smaller 4 blade heads(magnus stinger comes to mind) that are razor sharp, on 10gpp arrows, and you are good to go. Elk are easy to kill if you hit em right. But elk will go forever if you hit them poorly, no matter what weight bow you use. I shoot a 68lb bow at my 32" draw (with 740 grain arrows), and hit a cow in the elbow joint last fall. Penetration was nonexistent, and the cow ran off like nothing had happened. Chances are slim to none on getting through any heavy bone you encounter on an elk.
You should use the search tab, I bet there's a hundred topics on this subject. Just use key words like: draw weight elk.
p.s. Matty is right. there are a lot of threads just like this one in the archives.
I shot this Bull with a 64" 51#@31" Safari Elite recurve. Arrow was 510 grains.
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:deadhorse: couldn't help myself just been waiting for a chance to use this gremlin
I agree 51 to 53 pound bows are enough to kill an elk BUT a hunter shooting that poundage would want to stick to a good 2 blade broadhead rather than a multi blade head. As with any animal, there needs to be an exit hole for good blood trails.
My Sarrels Blueridge longbow is 50#@ my draw length and I would not hesitate to shoot an elk with it!
Bisch
Yes I shot a 6x6 53@26
Your 30+ inch draw is a huge advantage. It would likely take a bow over 60 pounds at 28" performance wise to equal your low fifties bow at over 30 inches.
:thumbsup:
I think it would be plenty. I would probably try to tune an arrow in the 600-700 grain range though.
I agree with Todd, go with a heavy weight-forward arrow with a COI two blade. I doubt if any elk has ever been killed by a bow but plenty have been killed by arrows! :cool:
28 yard broadside shot, 48lb trad tech titan recurve and 416 grain arrow, Magnus 2 blade stinger. Double lung shot, the elk was dead in less than 10 seconds.
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I shoot 51# and 54# and never worry about chasing elk with either
That is at my 28" draw. I've used both 2 blades and 3 blades.
As often happens, we are discussing only draw weight. Bows of the same draw weight can differ dramatically in performance. I have bows that differ by 5-6# in draw that shoot the same arrow at the same speed. So depends on bow design. A high performance recurve or hybrid will tend to be an entirely different thing from a slow self bow (not implying that all self bows are slow :) ) . Draw weight alone is only one factor.
No problem with 50+ at 30 inches. Heck I hunt Alaska moose with 51 @ 30.5 and John is 52 @ 31. He killed his big bull with a quartered away shot. Both lungs and lodged into the far shoulder bone.
Mike
Upfront, I have never hunted Elk with a bow. That said, the other day I chronographed a 620 grain Douglas Fir arrow out of a 64" Toelke Classic Whip which is 53 lbs. @29". They flew 167 f.p.s., a 660 grain shaft went 164 f.p.s., results with my 5 lbs. heavier Super D were identical. I suspect with a sharp 2 blade broadhead set-ups like this are sufficient for just about anything on this Continent.
Thanks for the positive replies.
Good question, and I don't feel this is beating a dead horse. You need to be confident in your set-up. I know Mike Lapinski recommends a bow of at least 60 pounds, and I have a hard time arguing with the guy. However, I think if you are shooting a well tuned arrow at your long draw you will be fine, but I also don't know much.
P.S. I recommend all the books by Mike on hunting elk with a bow. Great reads.
I think Mike wants to limit the pressure on his elk hunting spots:) Lots of elk hunters would have to stay home if it required 60# to hunt elk.
QuoteOriginally posted by Braveheart Archery:
Your 30+ inch draw is a huge advantage. It would likely take a bow over 60 pounds at 28" performance wise to equal your low fifties bow at over 30 inches.
:thumbsup:
Yeah, that draw length is like cheating and having an afterburner. You are good to go. Short armed guys like me (27" draw) usually default to heavier weights.
I've never hunted Elk either, but know a chap that hunts them religiously with a 50 something pound d/r longbow. He's probably killed more elk with archery tackle than I've had hot breakfasts and he has reported exceptional results over the last several years using heavier (around 700 grain) arrows with a heavy 2 blade head. Lots of complete pass through's and reasonable results even when hitting heavy bone.
Good luck :)
Jim
i think this is a great topic..i do agree with every one..but does every one agree if it was a selfbow..if have some self bows and they feel to light..SO,i have pasted on hunting elk with them..and maybe i have been wrong..SORRY FOR HI JACKING THE TOPIC..john
Stay away from leg bones. You can shoot thru ribs on both sides with that 30" draw.
Definitely!
No problem.
Kris
I got my elk last year with my Bushbow, #55 @32" Arrow weight is a little less than a VW, 625gr. My Sasquatch is being made to the same specs, good for elk , deer, or zombies.
Again, I will harp on the draw length here. Arrow speed and weight is relevant, not draw weight.
I shot a deer recently with a 44# @ 25" recurve. that flings a 500gr arrow just about 150fps. at 31" you'd likely only need to be shooting 32.5#. thats assuming 8" brace height and equal effeciency of the bow.
so your 50# @ 31" is like me shooting 67# @ 25".
So if I asked if you though 67# was enough at 25" draw to shoot an elk ... probably everyone would have wondered why I even bothered to ask.
Long story short, you have no problem here at all ... good 2 blade and you'll probably be shocked.